GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sunday's game at State Farm Stadium between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers was not great for the home team. The 49ers won 45-29, clinched the NFC West division title for the second straight season and officially knocked Arizona out of playoff contention.
However, for two 49ers players, it was a game to remember, as it was a homecoming for them.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is originally from Queen Creek. He starred at Perry High School in Gilbert where he was named the 2017 Friday Night Fever Offensive Player of the Year. Purdy went on to be a star quarterback at Iowa State and Fiesta Bowl champion and offensive MVP before being selected by San Francisco as Mr. Irrelevant with the final pick (262nd overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft.
San Francisco defensive back Isaiah Oliver is originally from Goodyear. He starred for Brophy Prep in Phoenix and was the 2015 Friday Night Fever Defensive Player of the Year. He played for the Colorado Buffaloes and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He signed with the 49ers as a free agent in March 2023.
Both players said returning home to play in a stadium where they used to come to watch games was special.
"Obviously coming home and stuff, you know, I came back here for the Fiesta Bowl (in 2021), but that was in COVID, you know, so there wasn’t that many people watching, just family and friends," Purdy said. "But now, to come back and have a whole stadium and it felt like a game that, you know, in high school, I’d come watch the Cardinals and it felt like that. And now I’m playing on that field, so cool. So, definitely something I’ll look back on in life and be very thankful for."
"Man, it’s great," Oliver said. "Just being able to come home and play a game, you know, at (the) Cardinals’ stadium obviously has been a dream come true, really. Just growing up here, coming to Cardinals games and then being able to play here has been great."
In Sunday's win over the Cardinals, Purdy was 16/25 for 242 yards and four touchdowns. Oliver had three tackles and one quarterback hit.
The stadium at times felt like a 49ers home game due to all of the support for the 49ers and more specifically, for Purdy.
Purdy says that support meant a lot to him.
"To come home and have everybody from high school, Perry, Queen Creek, Gilbert to come to the game and support like they have, it means everything to me," Purdy said. "I’ve always dreamed of being able to come home and play in front of everybody and just because of how much I know that they’d have my back and support me. And so I hope I was able to give them a good game and I appreciate all that they’ve done for me in my life."
Oliver added that playing at State Farm Stadium made him feel like he was back in high school.
"Nothing’s changed, just like a high school game, it felt the exact same," Oliver said. "So, you know, it’s just really cool to have that environment, have the family here."
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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